Like in the past couple of years, the coverage under red gram is likely to exceed the target fixed by the Agriculture Department in Gulbarga district. As per the latest details, farmers have completed sowing of red gram in 98 per cent of the total targeted area; sowing is still continuing at a brisk pace.
Sources in the department told The Hindu here on Thursday that against the target of 3.65 lakh hectares, farmers have completed sowing in 3.57 lakh hectares. Coverage is likely to touch the 4-lakh hectare mark this year.
The sources said farmers had time till August 15 to complete sowing of red gram. Last year, farmers had completed sowing of red gram in more than 3.7lakh hectares by this time.
One of the reasons for the delay this year was the incessant rainfall in July and the first week of August. However, the skies cleared in the last few days, allowing farmers to resume sowing.
Surprise for officials
The record increase in the area under soya bean cultivation in the district has surprised many in the Agriculture Department. Against the target of 700 hectares fixed for soya bean, farmers have, so far, completed sowing on 12,460 hectares.
The reason? Farmers who generally cultivated green gram and black gram have opted for soya bean this year, prices for soyabean are remunerative, and cost of cultivation of soya bean is low.
Sowing of commercial crops, including cotton and sugarcane, has also exceeded the target this year. Against the target of 24,000 hectares for cotton, farmers have completed sowing on 43,287 hectares.
Progress in district
The sources said that so far, sowing had been completed in 96 per cent of the targeted area in the district. Against the target of 5,71,200 hectares fixed for the kharif season, farmers had completed sowing on 5,49,877 hectares.
Damage to the crops owing to rainfall had been minimal.
However, standing crops of black and green gram were affected after around 50 hectares of land at Margutti in Gulbarga taluk were inundated.
